Washing and extracting liquids from textiles



July 23,1940. R, TT, R 2,208,830

WASHING AND EXTRACTING LIQUIDS FROM TEXTILES Filed June 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [h /Ms!!! y 23, 1940- R. E. BASSETT. JR

WASHING AND EXTRAGTING LIQUIDS FROM TEXTILES 'F iled June 14, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 w M mim I I iv:

K/fys.

' July 23, 1940. R, E, BA ETT, JR 2,208,830

WASHING AND EXTRACTINC- LIQUIDS FROM TEXTILES Filed June 14, 19:57 a Sheets-Sheet 5' Z -96 j" k ||||||1|l l !f E 1 a1 93 29 73 v I Q 1- 9 13 -&2; Ear] 15 9g ZfJ Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES WASHING AND EXTRACTIN G LIQUIDS FROM TEXTILES Rex Earl Bassett, Jr., South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware 7 Application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,042

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for washing and extracting liquids from textiles. The primary object of the invention is to pro 5 vide an improved apparatus whereby both washing and extracting processes are performed by a single mechanical operation in a single receptacle, thus eliminating the use of clutches, speed changing mechanisms and the like. Heretofore it has been common practice to utilize washing machines in which washing is performed according to one method, such as agitation by a mechanical oscillator or liquid currents and in which the extraction of liquid is performed by a l centrifuging operation. The change from washclothes from one receptacle to another and a similar transfer of drive, a change in drive from oscillatory to rotary motion, or a change from one driven member to another. Even in machines having only a single receptacle used in both the washing and extracting processes a speed changing device has heretofore been used. Another object of the invention is to provide an 2 improved washing and liquid extracting machine having a minimum of mechanical parts and in which the change from washing to extracting is accomplished by manipulation of a single control means which does not, however, affect the m mechanical operating parts of the machine.

A'further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved method of cleansing textiles and like goods which comprises the steps of alternately simultaneously lifting the goods from the liquid and compressing them and immersing and releasing them. v The apparatus embodying the invention includes a stationary tub-like receptacle preferably, but not necessarily, circular in shape and having therein a. reciprocable perforated piston suitably 40 operated by a connecting rod extending through the bottom of the receptacle. The upper end of the receptacle is open so that textiles may be inserted into a variable volume washing chamber defined by the lateral side walls of the receptacle, 45 the top of the piston and a removable imperforate cover adapted to close the receptacle during the operation of the machine.

The receptacle is filled with liquid and soap suds or other detergent to a suitable height, pref- 50 erably, but not necessarily, a height less than that occupiedby the textiles when compressed by the piston. The piston is reciprocated at a fairly rapid rate alternately to compress and release the textiles. In the operation under preferred 55 conditions, liquid is expressed from the textiles on the compression stroke and flows past the piston into the bottom of the receptacle, and on the release stroke the liquid is forced into the washing chamber. The above described opera- 60 tion of the reciprocable piston results in the aliing to extraction requires either transfer of ternate immersion and lifting of the textiles in and out of the liquid, respectively. On the compression and lifting stroke the liquid is expressed from the textiles, and on the release stroke the 5 textiles are released and immersed in the liquid. The textiles are thus subjected to a continuous and reversing fiow of liquid therethrough that effectively cleanses them. The textiles are also effectively distributed over the entire transverse area of the washing chamber and are thus all equally acted upon-by the liquid.

When the apparatus is operated with the, receptacle substantially filled with liquid, the textiles are alternately compressed and released while immersed in liquid. The alternate compression and release creates a vigorous reversing fiow of liquid through the textiles and thus efi'ectively cleanses them.

The textiles may be rinsed by supplying a fresh supply of liquid to the receptacle and finally dried after withdrawal of liquid therefrom..

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the washing operation is initiated simultaneously with the admission of liquid to the receptacle. The liquid admission ports are preferably located so that the textiles in the upper portion of the receptacle are wet first. In this manner the textiles are gradually wet from top to bottom, with the result that dirt particles float downward to the bottom of the receptacle.

While the above mentioned cover has been described as being imperforate, such construction is not essential to the practice of the invention, as will appear more fully hereinafter. Both the cover and piston or only one of them may be perforated. In case the piston is imperforate,

then some other means of communication from the top side thereof to the bottom of the receptacle must be provided, as by grooves in the receptacle wall or communicating perforations therealong.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig\- 1 is a front elevation, partly'in section, of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the apparatus, with the outer cover removed;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in cross-section, of a modified form of receptacle and reciprocating means that may be used in place of that shown in Fi l;

Fig. 4 is ,a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3 of a further modification of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of Y an arrangement for changing rotary to reciprocating motion used with the above apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical ap hereinafter.

paratus used for controlling the devices illustrated in the preceding figures; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of the controller used in the electrical system.

These specific drawings and the description thereof that follows are to disclose and illustrate the invention and are not to impose limitation on the claims.

In the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 an upright cylindrical shell in is mounted upon casters II and is provided with an inturned flange l2 surrounding the upper end for supporting a removable outer cover 13. The cover merely restsupon the flange and is provided for the purpose of preventing liquids from splashing outside the casing, but it does not need to be secured in an airtight manner. A substantially cylindrical tubshaped reecptacle i4, adapted to contain the liquid used in washing and rinsing, is fixedly mounted at its bottom on the circular flange l5 suitably secured to the inner side of the shell 10. The receptacle is somewhat smaller in diameter than the shell and extends upwardly to engage the flange i2 to which it is attached as by welding. There is thus provided an annular space I! between the lateral side walls of the shell and valve i9, is adapted selectively to be opened and I closed in accordance with the desires of an operator or in predetermined timed sequence by an electrical controller 24 attached to the side of the shell l0 and provided with a manually operable controller 25 with which is associated a suitable dial marked with the operations of washing, rinsing and extracting The admission of liq uid to the receptacle is controlled by a float switch 26 adapted to be actuated through a rod 21 connected thereto and having slidably mounted thereon a float 28. The float is adapted to engage spaced apart collars 28' mounted on the shaft and as it slides along the rod in response to variations in water level. The float switch and its actuating mechanism are mounted in a liquid-tight container 29 connected to the interior of receptacle it by a relatively small sized passage 30 consisting of coincident apertures in the container and receptacle. The details of construction and operation of the various controls will appear more fully A variable volume washing chamber 3t is defined by the lateral side walls of the receptacle it, an imperforate cover 32, and means such as a piston 33 provided with a plurality of perforations 34, and mounted for reciprocation in the receptacle for periodically varying the volume between the cover and piston. The

cover 32 and piston 33 are covered with relatively thin layers 32 and 33' of resilient material such as soft rubber in order to avoid breakage of buttons or the like usually found on textiles. The layers may be suitably bonded to the cover and piston or secured thereto by rivets or the like. I

The im'perforate cover 32 is removably mounted in the receptacle so that the latter may be filled with textiles and is secured in a position above the nozzle 20 by means of a bayonet joint defined by vertical and. horizontal grooves 35 and 36, respectively, suitably formed in the inner walls of the receptacle. The cover is securely locked in place by lowering it in groove 35 and then rotating it in groove 36. It is also provided with a handle 31 so that it may be readily secured in place and removed for the insertion of textiles therebelow.

The piston 33 is mounted for reciprocation within the receptacle in an apertured journal plate 39 located above the bottom wall of the receptacle and a hollow downwardly extending guide 40, both of which are secured to the bottom wall by suitable means such as rivets 4|. The piston is securely attached to a connecting rod 42 adapted to reciprocate in the journal plate' 39 and guide and is surrounded by suitable packing 43 to prevent the leakage of water therealong. The piston and connecting rod are adapted to be actuated through a resilient means such as a helical spring 44 mounted within a hollowed out longitudinal chamber 45 in the latter. The spring isalternately com-v pressed and released by a rack bar 46 reciprocable within the hollow portion 45 and provided with a pin 48 slidable in a pair of diametrically opposed grooves 49 provided in the connecting rod. Thus; as the rack bar is moved up and down alternately to compress and release the spring, the piston is alternately forced up and down in the receptacle i4, thereby alternately compressing and releasing the textiles contained therein,

The rack bar 46 is provided with gear teeth 50 so that it may be reciproca'ted through a speed and motion changing device 5! driven by suitable means such as an electric motor 52. The motor is adapted to drive the speed and motion changing device 5i through shafting 53 and the latter is provided with a pinion 54 which is rotated in alternate directions by suitable gearing within the device 5i.

The gearing within device 5! is of the type illustrated in Fig. 5; but may be of any other well. known construction. Referring now to Fig. 5, it may be noted that shaft 53 is adapted to drive a pinion 55, in turn adapted to drive a gear 56. The latter is provided with a pin 5'! mounted "off-center and adapted to drive a connecting rod 58' connected to a pin 59 mounted on a sector gear 60. The latter in turn drives t e pinion 54 driving the rack bar 46. It is apparent that rotation of pinion inone direction imparts periodically reversed rotation of gear 54 and the latter in turn imparts a reciprocating motion to the rack bar 4%.

In operation, the apparatus described above is adapted to be operated at a fairly rapid rate of speed, preferably such that .the piston will be reciprocated once every three seconds or less. To wash textiles the covers 13 and 32 are first removed and the space above the piston 33 filled with textiles. Thereafter, the cover 32 is locked 56, the rack bar it and spring M. The supply of water is cut off, under the preferred mode of operation, when the liquid reaches a height just below the piston when the latter is in its uppermost position. Thus, when the piston is in its uppermost position, the liquid in the textiles is expressed therefrom and falls into the space back of the piston through the apertures 34 and when the piston is in its retracted position the textiles are released and immersed in the liquid which flows to the upper side of the piston through perforations 34. There is thus provided a continuous alternate immersion of the textiles in the liquid and a simultaneous lifting out and compressing thereof.

Although it is preferred that the liquid level be below the uppermost position of the piston, the washing process may be carried on advantageously in the apparatus described with the receptacle substantially filled with liquid. When .operating under the latter condition the textiles are alternately compressed and released while immersed in the liquid. On the compression stroke of the piston the textiles are squeezed and the liquid expressed therefrom. 0n the release stroke the textiles are loosed and immersed in the liquid which flows upwardly at a considerable velocity through the perforations on the piston.

After the completion of the washing process the liquid within the receptacle is drained through conduit 2| while the motor 52 is in operation. At this time there is performed a dual function of drainage and continued compression and release of the textiles. After all the water is drained out then the clothes are dried by the continued alternate compression and release to which they are subjected.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modified form of receptacle cover and piston in which both the piston and cover are perforated. The piston 33 is provided with perforations 34 and a layer 33' of rubber just as the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The cover 62 is provided with a layer 62' of rubber and otherwise is constructed somewhat similar to the cover 32, with the exception that it is provided with perforations 63 and vertical flanges 64 to give it added rigidity. It, like cover 32, is removably mounted within the receptacle and when in place rests just above the nozzle 20. The piston 33 is illustrated in its uppermost position, at which time it is just above the liquid level, in accordance with the preferred mode of operation, the level being indicated-by reference numeral 65. The operation of the apparatus utilizing the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that of the apparatus previously described. However. in this embodiment of the invention some of the liquid in thetextiles is forced upwardly through perforations 63 during the compression stroke of the piston. On the release of the textiles this water flows back down through the perforations 63 into the textiles. During the washing process the operation is practically the same as that of the apparatus of Fig. 1, but because of the perforations in the cover the extraction is not quite as rapid as that of the previously described apparatus.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, the p ston 66 is provided with a layer S6 of rubber, but made without perforations. whereas the cover is similar in construction to that described in Fig.

3, consisting of a cover plate '2 provided with a r layer 62' of rubber, perforations O3 and flanges 64. Liquid is supplied to the receptacle through a nozzle 61 located above the cover plate 62. The

liquid thus admitted into the receptacle flows into the space below the cover plate and also below the piston through perforations 63 and grooves 68 formed on the inner surface of receptacle l4. Thus, as the piston 66 is reciprocated within the receptacle, the textiles are alternately compressed and released. During compression the liquid is forced from the textiles above the cover plate 62 through perforations 63 .and in back of the piston through the longitudinal grooves 68. on the release stroke the liquid above the cover plate flows back into the textiles through the perforations while the "liquid in back of the piston is forced upwardly along the grooves and into-the textiles or above the plate '62, and then into the textiles through perforations 63.

In the performance of the washing operation in accordance with the preferred mode, the textiles are alternately compressed and released. During the compression stroke water is expressed from the textiles and on the release stroke the textiles are immersed in the liquid'forcedinto contact and through the textile fabrics by the piston. There is thus provided a single receptacle in which liquid is forced alternately from one side of a piston contained therein to the other to alternately immerse the textiles and thus wash or rinse them. No change need be made in the change-over of the machine from washing to drying except to drain the liquid from the receptacle. The apparatus described utilizes a minimum of mechanical parts and which, because of its rapid reciprocation and the predetermined.

controller housing 1| fits into the-upper end of casing 24 attached to the side walls of shell II. A contact arm 'I3.is attached to a vertical shaft 14 and carries contacts I5, 16 and 11 which sweep along the upper edges of thejarcuate contact strips. The vertical shaft 14 hasits lower end pivoted upon a step bearing'la fixed in the center-of the base 12 and is driven at slow speed in a clockwise direction by an electrical motor and reduction 'gearing (not shown) insidev a casing 19 that fits into the upper end of the controller housing H. V 7 V The upper end of shaft I4 extends'through a cover 80 on the top of the controller housing H and has fixed thereon the indicator '25. The driving connection between the reduction gearing and the shaft 14 is capable of slippage to permitthe shaft to be rotated manually by means of the indicator 25, the slippage being provided by a frictional drive between the shaft. and a gear ll mounted thereon loosely.

The electrical system may be connected with an electrical supply line by means of a p ug", and a lead wire 84 connects the contacts 15 to 11, inclusive, with one of the prongs of the plug.

Associated with contact 15 is an arcuate strip B5 and 81 to the control motor '8, connected in turn by conductors 9 and 80 to the other prong of plug 85. The control motor I, which is a constant-speed motor of the type used inelectric clocks, is arranged in the upper part of the housing ll. It is arranged to-drive the shaft ll through the reduction gearing, one gear 8| of which is shown in Figure 7. Concentric with arcuate strip 85 and spaced therefrom are a plurality of arcuate conductors ll, 92 and '3, all interconnected by conductors 94 and 55. These are all connected by conductor 85 to the solenoid of inlet valve I! having in series therewith the normally closed float switch 25 connected directly to supply conductor 0. I .A third series of arcuate conductors 51, 58

and 99 cooperating with contact 11, are also provided, these being connected in series by conductors NH and I02 and in turn connected to the solenoid of the outlet valve 22 through a conductor I03. The solenoid valve is in turn connected by conductor-J to the supply conductor 90. The contact carrying arm I3 is normal yin the position indicated in Fig. 6, in which cator 25 or by a switch I05 adapted to connect the control motor 88 as well as the main driving motor 52 directly across the supply conductors.

the apparatus is started and will carry out automatically-the predetermined washing, rinsing and drying operations. However, it is apparent that the operator may rotate the contact carrying arm 13 to any of the positions whereby the apparatus wi l immediately carry out the desired function. 7

In orderto 'eifect automatic operation of the apparatus, the operator first places textiles in the receptacle, together with the proper quantity of soap which may have a bluing compound incorporated therewith. The operator thereafter closes switch I05 to energize the control motor 88 and the main driving motor 52. The control motor 88 actuates switch arm 13 and thereby contact 15 into engagement with the arcuate strip 85 to close'a holding circuit for the motors, the motor 88 thereby continuing to rotate contact arm 13. Simultaneously with the initiation of operation of the motors a circuit is closed across contact 16 and contact strip 9|, thereby closing an energizing circuit for the solenoid of inlet valve l9 and admitting water into the receptacle l4. After the liquid therein reaches a predetermined level, the float switch 2i is actuated into its open position" and the inlet valve closes.

The latter effects opening of the drain valve and the liquid within the receptacle is drained out at a rate greater than at which it may be supplied through the inlet conduit, as explained above. When the liquid drains to a level below the level at which the floatswitch is actuated, then the inlet valve opens to admit clean water into the receptacle and thereby aid in the rinsing operation.

- to the receptacle.

After another predetermined length of time the engagement of contacts 16 and SI is terminated. to cut oil the supply of water to the receptacle. However, during this period the drain valve remains open. After a further predetermined length of time the drain, valve is closed and the inlet valve opened upon disengagement of contacts I1 and l] and engagement of contacts ll and $2 occurring simultaneously. Thus, fresh water is supplied to the receptacle to rinse the textiles contained therein. A predetermined length of time thereafter the contact 11 engages contact, thereby again to open the drain valve inobvious fashion. At thistime liquid is being supplied to and drained from the receptacle to rinse the textiles contained therein. After a predetermined length of time, contact 15 leaves contact 92 thereby interrupting the supply of liquid to the receptacle and the liquid is drained therefrom. After another predetermined length of time contact 'll moves out of engagement with contact SI and contact 15 simultaneously engages contact 93, thereby again to supply fresh liquid After a predetermined length of time the drain valve is opened and thereafter the supply of liquid terminated and the textiles are dried by continued alternate compression and release. After the textiles have been thoroughly dried, contact I1 moves out of engagement with contact strip 39 thereby automatically termina ing operation of the machine.

While only a single washing operation and two rinsing operations have been described above, it is apparent that these numbers may be varied as desired. In some cases it may be desirable to increase. the number of washing operations and in other cases it may be desirable to either increase or decrease the number of rinsing operations. The control described above may be readily modified to meet these various requirements.

In the course of the above description, the word textiles has been used to describe the materials usually washed. It should be understood that this term has been used in its most generic sense and to cover all types of goods that may be washed, cleansed or otherwise treated by a liquid. with or without a suitable detergent.

I claim: y 7 V 1. Cleaning apparatus comprising an outer shell, a tub supported within and spaced from the shell at the upper end thereof, a. verticallyreciprocable washing member in said tub, means within said shell below the tub for reciprocating said member, a drain from the bottom of the tub, and an inlet connection in the space between the shell and said tub having a nozzle discharging into the tub.

2. Cleaning apparatus comprising an outer shell, a tub supported within and spaced from the shell at the upper end thereof, a verticallyreciprocable washing member in said tub, means within said shell below the tub for reciprocating said member, a drain from the bottom of the tub, an inlet connection in the space between the shell and said tub having a nozzle discharging into the tub, a chamber containing a float and which communicates with said tub and which i float and which shuts off said connection when the float reaches a predetermined level.

' REX EAR-L BASSE'I'I, Ja. 

